worst theme park trip ever

• Amusement Parks That Are Actually Haunted
• Practical Jokes That Weren't Funny
• Awful Incidents at SeaWorld
• Terrible Days at Universal Studios
• Deaths at the Water Park
• Awful Happenings at Mardi Gras
• The Worst Parties in History
• Cheerleading Fails
• Real Horror Stories of Summer Camp
• Amusement Park Rides Ruined Forever
• But Was It Ever a Good Idea?
• A Day at the Beach
• Overboard Cruise Ships
• Backfired Pranks
• Bachelor Parties That Were Ruined
• The Worst Stag and Hens' Nights

Ranker Readers Are Sharing Their Worst Trip To A Theme Park

Who said that a theme park has to be fun? Well yes, all the commercials and probably... the whole world? Well, we believe that everyone is the owner of deciding if a theme park is pure enjoyment and relaxation or not. Why? Because our fellow friends are saying so and we are always here for them. They are sharing their weird and not-so-fun stories in adventure parks and on roller coasters. Check them out and vote up the ones that have you questioning your next trip.

When The Wave Pool Overpowers You

From Facebook commenter Gretchen Gilroy :

When I was younger, I almost drowned in a wave pool. I was knocked down and a fully grown man stepped on my back and I couldn’t get up. He finally moved but it felt like I was down there forever.

From Facebook commenter Gregory Taylor :

I nearly drowned in a wave pool at a water park. It was terrifying.

Mother Nature Came Early

From Facebook commenter Leah Karagogo :

Got my period at Cedar Point. I was a young teen and too embarrassed to ask my friend’s mom for a pad, so I thought the toilet paper would suffice. Waiting in a two-hour line for The Magnum, I learned I was horribly wrong… Thankfully, the boy I was waiting in line with (and had a crush on) was my hero and gave me his long-sleeved tee to tie around my waist. Folks definitely noticed before that, though…

When You Can't Stop Puking

From Facebook commenter CP Bay :

My twin brother and I went to Olive Garden with a friend before going to King’s Dominion. After the first ride, we both stepped off and puked simultaneously. After a little bit or so, we felt better and got on another ride. The minute we got off that ride, we puked simultaneously AGAIN! The worst part was, both times happened in front of the same group of kids. One yelled, “It’s the puking twins again!”

When You Slam Your Face Against Your Seat

From Facebook commenter Sixto Luna Art :

I was in third grade riding the famous wood coaster at Coney Island when my face slammed against the front seat on the way down. Broke my front tooth and it cut through my bottom lip.

From Facebook commenter Kevin Solomon Stevens :

That coaster is rough and it was even rougher in the '80s!

Got Water Where It Didn't Belong

From Facebook commenter Cat Normand :

Getting my first enema. Apparently, there's a reason for crossing your ankles on those drastic drop water slides.

From Facebook commenter Kim MK :

That was mine as well.

Walked Way Too Much

From Facebook commenter Christopher Stevens :

I was about 8. Mom bought me new shoes a day or two before going to Six Flags. My feet had gotten wet so Mom tossed my socks into the trash. Those new shoes rubbed huge blisters on both of my ankles. I was in excruciating pain by the end of the day.

When You Get Lost

From Facebook commenter Marc Studebaker :

I got separated from my family at age 4, in Astroworld, in Houston, TX, in 1978. They took me to the “Lost peoples' place.” There was a very nice young lady who tried to read to me and comfort me. I was having NONE OF IT! I don't remember exactly how the situation was resolved, aside from the fact that I was reunited with MY family.

When You're Nauseous The Whole Day

From Facebook commenter Stephen Widner :

Being nauseous all day after the teacups at Disneyland. Ruined the whole day!

When The Kids Are Annoying

From Facebook commenter William R Bourne :

Cedar Point. Large Groups of kids running around trashing the place, cutting in line, and everyone around afraid to say anything.

When You Forget Your Shoe

From Facebook commenter Kathy Mccarthy :

I left my shoe in the Haunted Mansion. I was too scared to go back for it.

When You Get Pooped On

From Facebook commenter Rebekah Cochran McNair :

Getting pooped on by a seagull at Sea World.

They Ate Out Of The Trash Can

From Facebook commenter Trever Kent :

Look, I'm not proud of myself but I was about 10 years old standing in line for a roller coaster at Michigan's Adventure. I was obsessed with Dippin' Dots ice cream. They just recently came out with it, and it was really hot that day. Someone had thrown away almost a full cup of dipping dots into the trash and it was sitting right on top. Hadn't even melted yet. I grabbed it and started eating it.

From Facebook commenter Janet Johnston :

And you lived to tell about it.

Not Being Allowed A Souvenir

From Facebook commenter Hillary Cresswell :

Being told as a small child and reminded every time we went, to not ask for anything at Disney. That I should be grateful that I got to go. It was the way it was said as well.

When It Cost Too Much

From Facebook commenter Steven Jensen :

The cost of admission and food is ridiculous!!

When You Overreact

From Facebook commenter Ambre Peace :

Busch Gardens. The year the Alpengeist opened. I was like 7. It was broken down all day, and opened at the very end. My dad wanted to ride. I cried and cried and cried because I thought he was gonna die. He rode. He didn't die. Got free tickets to come back on the way out. Happy ending.

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They were looking forward to fun days of smiles and making great memories, but instead: TERROR.

Trip Report Update: Touring the Worst Disney Park in the World

I always marvel at what a rare treat it is to experience a Disney theme park for the first time. But in today’s installment of The Lurkyloos Do Disneyland Paris in the Snow (So You Don’t Have To) we experience the rarest of all feelings: What it’s like to visit a bad Disney theme park.

Have you ever done that before? I know I haven’t! Even when I visited California Adventure the week it opened and found myself sitting on a bench at 2pm wondering what was left to do, I didn’t feel like I was in a bad Disney park.

But on this day, we had the unique experience of visiting the largest corner Disney ever cut…  Read on!

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3 responses.

So you never tried the Armageddon-ride? I would have loved your review on it, because that really was the worst ride ever! In a funny not intentional way… I love reading your trip reports – they really get me in the mood for my own trips and I truly hope you’ll go back to doing them one day ?

Thanks so much for the kind words! I do feel super-guilty that I never finished this one. I just got so busy with the book and podcast that I have no free time left for trip reports! And now I am really wishing we’d ridden Armadeddon when were there so I could have had a funny story to tell! 😀

I love when the park is all snowy.

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Who Is Lurkyloo?

Disney trip reporter, cake expert, host of the Disney Wedding Podcast and author of Carrie Hayward's Fairytale Weddings Guide

11 Disappointing Theme Parks That Are A Waste Of Time (14 Worth Every Dollar)

There are not any countries or regions that are immune from having disappointing theme parks

Theme parks have an interesting legacy. Before Disneyland set the standard for a permanent entertainment venue that is open year-round, traveling carnivals gave people a temporary respite from their ordinary lives. These small festivals for endearingly sketchy but they provided a lot of the same attractions that amusement parks provide today (food, games, rides).

Disneyland changed the game, and every amusement park since has been trying to catch up to the mouse in his giant blue castle. A lot of parks have come close, and I don’t think that it is unfair to call this the golden era of amusement parks. But with all things, not every amusement park is created equal. In fact, some parks should thank their marketing teams for the fact that anyone still visits them.

This article will discuss the 11 most disappointing theme parks we can't believe are still open, plus 14 worth every dollar. One thing that I found most surprising when I was compiling this list is that there doesn’t seem to be any geographical patterns. That is, there are not any countries or regions that are immune from having disappointing theme parks.

25 Most Disappointing- Disneyland Paris

One way that Disneyland has managed to maintain the strength of its brand is by limiting the number of Disneyland parks that are opened. The more parks that there are that bear the Disneyland name, the more likely it is that one of these parks will fail to live up to Disneyland expectations.

One park that has toed this line in recent years is Disneyland Paris. The park's operators borrowed a lot of money to create this park and this has hindered its growth. They have to be tighter with their money which keeps them from updating some older attractions.

24 Worth Every Dollar- Europa Park

Chalk up another victory for western Europe in the amusement park category. Europa Park (sometimes called Eurosat) is a popular theme park in Rust, Germany. Europa is the largest theme park in Germany and it is the most popular theme park in Europe that doesn’t bare the Disneyland name. Europeans love their roller coasters and Europa Park has one of the best collections in the world.

Silver Star, Blue Fir, and the Wodan Timbur Coaster are just a few of the coasters that call this park home. Europa Park also has a diverse schedule of shows that are very popular.

23 Most Disappointing- Diggerland

Who would have guessed that the most obnoxiously white trash amusement park in the United States could be found in New Jersey? Diggerland (ridiculous name, I know) is an amusement park where every ride and attraction is based on a piece of construction equipment.

Instead of go-karts, they have Rugged Riders. There is nothing wrong with the rides themselves (though they are nothing spectacular) but it is the overall theme of the park that makes this entry so ridiculous. This park is also limited by a lack of space and attractions.

22 Worth Every Dollar- Disneyland, California

This next entry shouldn't surprise anyone. For decades, Disneyland has been a Mecca for theme park enthusiasts not just in the United States, but worldwide. In other articles, I have made the argument that Disney World in Orlando, Florida is actually superior to the Disneyland in California but that shouldn't come off as a criticism of Disneyland itself.

Despite being habitually overcrowded, the rides at Disneyland are so cool that they make standing in line worth it. But the engineers at Disney aren’t resting on their laurels, they are constantly updating the park with new and innovating rides.

21 Most Disappointing- Nickelodeon Universe

I don't know if I have ever been more personally disappointed by a theme park than I was when I visited Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park. This park is located inside the Mall of America in Minnesota. As someone that grew up watching, and loving, Nickelodeon cartoons, I thought that this was such a cool idea for a theme park.

Nickelodeon has almost the following that Disney has and we all know how that theme park worked out. Unfortunately, the limitations of being in a mall have made Nickelodeon Universe hugely disappointing.

20 Worth Every Dollar- Disneyland Tokyo

Japan loves its amusement parks. The over-the-top fun that theme parks specialize in is perfect for the culture in Japanese cities. There are a ton of great theme parks in Japan to choose from but I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about Disneyland Tokyo. Disneyland Tokyo was the first Disney park to be opened outside the United States.

The park first opened its doors in 1983. It has been improving ever since, and the argument could be made that it now rivals the original Disneyland in California. I don’t want to get bogged down in that argument but I will point out that Disneyland Tokyo is home to Pooh’s Hunny Hunt.

19 Most Disappointing- Seaworld

No theme park in the world has had a tougher decade than Seaworld. This infamous water park drew most of its customers because of its dolphin and whale shows, where these giant marine mammals would jump through hoops and perform other tricks with the Seaworld trainers.

The documentary Blackfish revealed a lot, and these parks have seen a major drop in attendance since the film's release.

18 Worth Every Dollar- Universal Studios: Singapore

There are several key themes throughout this article. One theme that should be very apparent is that Universal Studios consistently puts out superior theme parks. Another pattern that is shown in this article is that the best theme parks in the world are not only found in rich countries. There does not seem to be any connection between a nation’s economic strength and their chance of housing a superior theme park.

The Universal Studios amusement park in Singapore illustrates both of these patterns. The most popular rides at this park are the Battlestar Galactica ride and Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure.

17 Most Disappointing- Cedar Point

I have never been to a theme park which looked more like it was just randomly thrown together than Cedar Point in Ohio. Cedar Point is a seasonal park, so every year they recruit a new crop of college and high school kids to work at the park during the summer. Ohio can’t furnish enough kids to fully staff the park, so they actually have housing barracks reserved for their seasonal workers.

When I was in college, several of my friends worked at the park during the summer. From some of the stories that they have told me, I never want to risk my life on a Cedar Park ride.

16 Worth Every Dollar- Lotte World

South Korea has become a bit of a haven for over-the-top theme parks in recent years. The best of these is probably Lotte World. Lotte world includes the world’s largest indoor theme park and an additional outdoor park called “Magic Island.” Though the park does have some original rides, its best attractions are remakes of Disneyland classics.

Adventures of Sinbad is an obvious copy of Pirates of the Caribbean and you can definitely see the inspiration to Pharaoh’s Fury in the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. It would be easy to write of Lotte World as a Disneyland rip off if it wasn’t for the fact that the South Korean park is cheaper and less crowded than the mouse’s palace.

15 Worth Every Dollar- Paradise Island: Atlantis

This is a bit of a weird choice for this list. The Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas is very nice but most people don't go there for the water park. When I stayed in Atlantis, however, I was very impressed by the local theme park.

One of the things that I found most impressive was how unique the water rides are. There is a water slide that takes you beneath a pool filled with sharks and other water life. There is also a long "lazy river" that is anything but dull.

14 Worth Every Dollar- Universal Studios: U.S.

One of the worst decisions that Universal Studios ever made was basing its park in Orlando, Florida. Universal is one of the most intricate and well-developed parks in the world but they decided to put it right next to the Mecca of amusement parks, Disney World. I have read, however, several articles from people who have been to both parks and they say that Universal stands up to the mouse in almost every aspect.

For years, Jurassic Park was the most popular ride in the park but the recent creation of Harry Potter World has given it a ride for its money.

13 Worth Every Dollar- Universal Studios Japan

Japan is a pretty cool country. This island nation in Asia has a unique history and culture and they have gone all in on certain aspects of technology. Therefore, it should surprise no one that one of the best theme parks in the world is located in Japan. There are four Universal Studios theme parks worldwide, and the most popular one might be the Japanese satellite.

Located in Osaka, this park is visited by over 8 million people every year. Hollywood Dream and Space Fantasy are the most popular rides.

12 Most Disappointing- Mountain Creek Waterpark

There are a lot of factors that might make a theme park disappointing. The rides might not be as cool as you thought, the games and food vendors might be too expensive, or the overall atmosphere might just be crappy. One thing that is guaranteed to make a theme park disappointing is if it is dangerous.

Mountain Creek Waterpark in New Jersey is notorious for being unsafe. Several people have been injured on their rides and sometimes, the results were even worse.

11 Worth Every Dollar- Disney World

Most people don't even understand the difference between Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Disney World, which is based in Orlando, Florida, is the vastly superior park. It takes up over 50 acres of space and is home to four separate "magical kingdoms." Most of the popular Disney rides that you hear about are at this park (including Kilimanjaro Safari).

The Orlando park is also famous for its entertainment array. Its shows are consistently rated as better than its western counterparts. If Disney World is this superior to the infamous Disneyland, imagine how it matches up to all those lesser parks.

10 Most Disappointing- Splash Lagoon

Splash Lagoon is a giant indoor water park in Erie, Pennsylvania. The entire park is enclosed and heated, so you can enjoy this waterpark year-round. Sounds pretty cool right? Unfortunately, every little kid in the Rust Belt also thinks so, so this park is habitually overcrowded. Splash Lagoon pitches itself as a fun destination for children as young as 2, and parents take them up on this offer.

Little kids running around is a part of any theme park experience but Splash Lagoon has allowed their park to go too far in favor of the kiddies.

9 Worth Every Dollar- Legoland

Legoland is exactly what it sounds like, a full-sized theme park that is based around the classic toy. Unfortunately, the rides aren’t actually made out of Lego’s but that doesn’t take away from this park’s overall appeal. The theme of this park would be enough for it to attract visitors but the parks designers didn’t rest on their laurels.

Despite the parks small size, they have some rides that could be premier attractions in any theme park around the world. The coolest part of Legoland, however, is the larger than life displays built out of Legos.

8 Most Disappointing- Adventuredome Theme Park

Las Vegas prides itself as the mecca of entertainment. There was a time when people only went to Vegas to gamble but the city has since seen quite a bit of development. You can now do just about anything in the City of Sin, and that includes visiting a fairly large theme park. Adventuredome Theme Park is a full-sized amusement park in the middle of Circus Circus Hotel and Resort.

I like the idea of an amusement park ride inside your hotel but Adventuredome leaves a lot to be desired. Not only are the rides less than stellar, but a lot of visitors have also complained about the park’s cleanliness.

7 Worth Every Dollar- Alton Towers

One doesn’t normally associate jolly old England with amusement parks but the British Isles are actually home to one of the best theme parks in the world. Alton Towers is located in Staffordshire, England. The park is actually part of a huge resort complex that includes the theme park, water park, hotel, mini golf complex, and spa.

Alton Towers has a ton of good rides but it is mostly known for its roller coasters. The Smiler and the Wicker Man are two park staples that are both extremely popular.

6 Most Disappointing- Six Flags New England

Growing up, it seemed like Six Flags was the epitome of fun. You couldn’t watch kids TV in the late 1990s without seeing some over-the-top ad for this park. There are Six Flags parks all over North America and some are better than others. One Six Flags installation that is notoriously disappointing is Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts is pretty frigid for most of the year, so this park already has a disadvantage to other parks in warmer climates. But instead of trying to make up for the poor weather with cooler rides, the engineers at Six Flags have let the park fall into disrepair.

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Worst theme park ever (why are the... - Lotte World

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• Lotte World

Worst theme park ever (why are the general s.korea adults so rude?)

'Terrible' is an understatement. Most of the rides (even some of the food places) are super crowded. Expect to queue over 1 hour for these places (2 hour and above for popular ones). Over-priced food (understand that theme park is expected, but this feels worse). Staff are generally kind but there are a few rude ones (especially the very rude reception lady infront of the folk museum on the 16th November 2023 / lunch timing. Don't understand why you choose to work in this line, consider a job in Karens diner instead for goodness sake.)

this place is amazing but i came here with my daughters at Sunday and that is huge mistake.. it is crowded.. very very crowded.. even for just ride a merry-go-round, i need to wait for 15 minutes. just dont go to lotte world at holidays... i have seoul pass so lotte world is free to visit. well, this place is amazing but it is like disneyland without any disney characters.. they are lack of recognizable figure. I know some local cartoon is famous like "Tayo the little bus". Why they dont use it and pay the license? Compared to other theme park like Legoland, Universal Studios and Disneyland, which has unique branding, this lotte world is like standard theme park.

We loved lotte world! Very easy to get to by subway. Our two year old daughter loved it and there were a lot of attractions for her to do. While she napped in the stroller mid-day, we visited the folk museum to learn more about Korean history. We highly recommend that as an add-on to the ticket because their museum is awesome and provides a lot of information!

Visited Lotte World with a group of friends! My last visit was in December 2022, and here's few changes to highlight! 1. Reservation system for ride times - They opened reservation system for few popular attractions. So far this system is available for The Conquistador, Aeronauts Balloon Ride and French Revolution. Basically there are specific times that you can go to the attraction to make booking for a ride time. You can enjoy other rides and things until your ride time! (Note that you must visit to book together with your party) 2. Single Rider System - If there's an attraction that you want to ride alone, you can use Single Rider system. There's about 8 attractions which has this system. Suggest to check their website for more information! I would recommend to visit if you are travelling to Seoul and if you are big fan to Theme Park!

Good for kids and young couples. Indoor and Outdoor theme park. There is mini museum inside. Nothing special unless you want enjoy the rides.

My family arrived at 11 am. We could only ride 2 rides so far (the time now is 5:12 pm). It is overcrowded. People use the wrong escalators because it’s just too overcrowded. The food is over priced (7000 won for an ade that is diluted). The staff is rude. My family wanted to get a refund however it was so crowded we could not even get to the information desk.

Are These The 7 Worst Amusement And Theme Parks In America? (Slideshow)

Back in 1978, the new owners of the Vernon Valley/Great Gorge ski area in  New Jersey  determined they needed an alternative, off-season attraction. Instead of building a tourist trap, they built what some have actually called " a death trap ," and named it Action Park. The first fatality occurred in 1980 when one of the cars on the Alpine Slide (which was described by one employee as having two speeds: extremely slow and "death awaits") jumped the track. Two deaths followed in the span of one week: a drowning in the Tidal Wave pool and an in-water electrocution on the Kayak Experience. In 1984, extremely cold water may have contributed to the heart attack suffered by another guest, and that same year, the wave pool claimed its second victim, followed by a third in 1987. There have been countless injuries as well, with local hospitals reporting as many as 10 per day during the busy season. Still, the immense success of Action Park (also known as "Traction Park," "Accident Park," and "Class Action Park") in the '80s has kept it open over all these years, even though it is now officially called Mountain Creek Waterpark (but still uses the  actionpark.com  web address). Comedian Chris Gethard summed up the appeal aptly: "Action Park was a true rite of passage for any New Jerseyan of my generation. When I get to talking about it with other Jerseyans, we share stories as if we are veterans who served in combat together. I suspect that many of us may have come closest to death on some of those rides up in Vernon Valley."

Adventuredome Theme Park at Circus Circus Las Vegas

There's a hefty dose of nostalgia at work at  Circus Circus Las Vegas , which successfully shields some loyal, older members from viewing its true, current state. Many Yelp reviewers can see through the haze (literally, as this kid-centric hotel still allows smoking on the casino floor) and have criticized both the Adventuredome Theme Park and surrounding hotel for its hordes of frantic and screaming children, dirty and outdated appearance, unpleasant odor, preachy  buffet  announcements repeatedly imploring guests to eat all they take (in English and Spanish!), unmanned games, and frequent closures of rides that weren't all that interesting to begin with. Circus Circus and the park might not be terrible for the littlest of kids, but it has fallen a long way since opening as a somewhat legitimate attraction in 1968. Then again, this is the same place that, in 1972, Hunter S. Thompson described as "what the whole hep world would be doing Saturday night if the Nazis had won the war."

For a much better buffet experience, try one of the 14 Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffets in America.

Diggerland, New Jersey

Earlier this year, we told you about the  10 Craziest Things You Can Do on Your Next Trip to Las Vegas , and it included a visit to  Dig This , where guests can operate a giant bulldozer or hydraulic excavator for an hour or two. In a limited setting with extra-large machinery this could be an enticing activity, but as an entire amusement park? Now you're pushing it. Yet a place called Diggerland actually exists, and it's basically  Disneyland  with farm equipment. Despite the larger park and greater selection of machines, the individual vehicles are smaller (as is the target audience) and include a host of less-exciting options such as tiny tractors (which can be "raced" around a track), WorkMax all-terrain vehicles (basically yellow golf carts), steam rollers, and a mini TA1EH Dumper truck. And if that's not exciting enough, guests can also ride in a "train" pulled by the TA1EH Dumper or an excavator merry-go-round. In the park's defense, there are a few larger machines, but this concept is still a bit too dull for an entire amusement park. Unless of course you just want to see Dozer and Diesel, the baby Nigerian dwarf goats that live at the park for some reason. But you can always just watch them live online via  the "Goat Cam."

Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, Florida

Examining  Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park  in Florida brings to mind numerous questions, the first of which is probably, "Is this even a theme park?" Well, it  does  have a theme – the Fountain of Youth – so that checks out. The second question: How a park based on a completely fictional place has managed to survived for almost 150 years and even make it on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places? That one, we admit, baffles us. Unless of course we drastically underestimated the amount of folks who are into fake shipwreck displays, cheesy dioramas, factually questionable lectures and tours, and an ancient "fountain" (actually a pipe, out of which you can drink sulfur-flavored water from Dixie cups) that doesn't even appear to be as old as the park itself. Considering the large number of negative Yelp reviews, our estimates were likely correct. On the plus side, the grounds are nice.

Holy Land Experience, Florida

If you've ever seen the episode of  The Simpsons  titled "I'm Goin' to Praiseland," you'll probably have a good idea of what to expect at the  Holy Land Experience  in Florida — even though that episode was written prior to the park's existence. The main difference is that the real version doesn't have a hallucination-inducing gas leak (as far as we know), and instead contains a whole lot more guilt. Notice that it's  not  called Holy Land  Amusement Park ; that's because when the main "attraction" is a bloody Jesus walking around screaming in pain and waiting to be crucified, tortured, and killed, it's hard to call the park amusing — especially after he makes his second trip of the day. Other features include a 2,000-seat auditorium, a "Scriptorium" library/research center, the  Jerusalem  Street Market, a model of the ancient "Eternal City," and numerous prayer gardens. If this venue existed solely as a museum or a serious education center (and didn't try to pass itself off as a fun theme park), then we could let it go. It's worth noting that Holy Land also boasts the creepily named "Smile of a Child Adventure Land," featuring rock climbing, face-painting, a game area, and a mini golf course. Just how Jesus envisioned it.

Pedroland Park at South of the Border, South Carolina

When I was a kid, every year my family made the trip from New York down south via I-95. My brother and I eagerly counted down the miles to South of the Border resort and tourist attraction with help from the endless number of billboards that marked the remaining distance. "Only one more mile!" my father would say as we saw the park emerging in the distance, giant sombrero tower and all. Then, just as we got to the off-ramp, my father would gun the engine and fly by, continuing on to  Florida , our true destination. As much as my brother and I wanted to stop each and every year, it turns out Dad was doing us a favor. South of the Border, despite its flashy signs, is the ultimate definition of a tourist trap. This 350-acre resort is devoid of anything that could actually qualify as "amusement" (save for the two mini-golf courses, perhaps), instead featuring some dinky rides at "Pedroland Park," a mediocre "reptile lagoon," a sketchy-looking motel, and a whole bunch of souvenir shops and empty parking spaces. South of the Border has made some strides in recent years to attain some sort of legitimacy with numerous updates, but we (and most Yelp reviewers) still feel like Pedro, the Mexican man mascot, is deceiving us all.

Skip the "authentic" cuisine here, and instead visit one of America's 50 Best Mexican restaurants.

SeaWorld, Various

Once upon a time, SeaWorld shared a high-ranking status level with other major American theme parks like Disneyland,  Disney World , and Universal Studios. But public opinion has turned on the animal park in recent years with the help of pro-animal-rights documentaries like 2013's  Blackfish . The film exposed SeaWorld's alleged poor treatment of its orca whales (and other animals) in captivity, which the company has dismissed as lies and propaganda. Nevertheless, SeaWorld has since ended its captive breeding program in hopes of winning back some guests. The Orlando location had the smallest amount of attendance growth (2 percent) among the major parks in America, and  the San Diego park 's attendance actually dropped by 7 percent. Similar to the Ringling Brothers Circus (who recently dropped elephants from its shows because of pressure from animal rights activists), SeaWorld will have to successfully change course or risk sinking completely. To their credit, they are now headed in the right direction.

Opting for Disney World instead? Here are 12 new attractions for 2016.

World's Most Horrifying Amusement Park Accidents

Ride malfunctions, freak accidents, passengers ignoring the rules. Amusement park tragedies don’t happen often, but when they do, the results can be terrifying.

While most of us expect a day at the theme park to be a fun, entertaining outing with friends and family, we also know that there are risks involved with roller coasters and other rides, albeit minor ones. There are roughly 30,000 amusement park-related injuries each year; however, fatal accidents are much rarer, with just a handful occurring over the last decade. 

Should you be overly worried or skip your trip to the theme park entirely? Probably not. Indeed, an industry group that represents theme and water parks points out that the chance of being injured on a ride at a permanent U.S. amusement park is one in 16 million, compared to a one-in-700,000 chance of being struck by lightning.

Still, it's worth knowing what can happen when park rides go wrong and exercising caution. Read on to learn about the most frightening incidents to ever occur around the world — including some that happened on rides that remain open today. 

Jetline Roller Coaster in Stockholm, Sweden

On June 25, 2023, tragedy struck at Grona Lund, Sweden's oldest amusement park. One of the trains on the Jetline roller coaster derailed, partially coming off the tracks while carrying 14 people. 

Some passengers were thrown off the ride, with witnesses claiming one man had to hang onto the rail before being rescued. One person died, and several others were injured and taken to the hospital. 

The Aftermath: Jetline Roller Coaster

As of January 2024, the amusement park accident was still under investigation. While investigators believe the accident happened due to a support arm breaking off, causing the cart to fall off the rail, they still can't confirm why it happened.

As of now, the roller coaster will be closed for the 2024 theme park season.

Orlando FreeFall in Orlando, Florida

Another tragic amusement park accident happened at ICON Park on March 24, 2022, when a 14-year-old boy fell to his death while riding the Orlando FreeFall. 

The boy fell out of his seat due to a locking malfunction.

The Aftermath: Orlando FreeFall

The Orlando FreeFall ride was dubbed as the world's tallest free-standing drop tower at 430-feet tall. While the Orlando FreeFall was dismantled, the Orlando SlingShot (an adjacent ride that was closed as a result) reopened in May 2023.

Other amusement parks that have similar rides built by the same manufacturer, like Dollywood's Drop Line in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, closed their rides temporarily until the proper investigations were completed.

Terminal Velocity in Lake Delton, Wisconsin

In the summer of 2010, a 12-year-old girl decided to take a leap of faith and hopped on a ride called Terminal Velocity at Extreme World, an amusement park in Wisconsin Dells. The family had traveled all the way there from their home in Florida just for her to try it. The ride worked by dropping participants over 100 feet into a net, without the use of any safety harnesses. 

Horrifyingly, the operator mistakenly released her with no net in place. She fell directly onto the concrete, breaking her back and pelvis and suffering brain damage, along with numerous other severe injuries. 

The Aftermath: Terminal Velocity

Miraculously, she survived . The girl, named Teagan, stayed in a nearby hospital for two months before she was well enough to head home.

Her parents filed a lawsuit, and the operator of the ride was charged with negligence. The family agreed to a settlement with the park. 

Ride of Steel in Darien, New York

On July 8, 2011, 29-year-old James Hackemer fell from the Ride of Steel at a Six Flags park in New York. The U.S. Army veteran was a double amputee, losing both legs to an injury during the Iraq War. He was seated in the front row of the ride, and because he didn't have legs to secure under the lap belt, he was violently launched out of the car. 

The Aftermath: Ride of Steel

After a thorough investigation, officials ruled that the cause of Hackemer's death was operator error. While the ride was operating normally, Hackener should never have been allowed on it in the first place. The safety regulations required passengers' legs to be secured before operation, but this is obviously impossible for someone missing both of them. Following this tragic and fatal lack of common sense, the ride was shut down for two weeks before resuming operation.

The Matterhorn in Anaheim, California

Some accidents happen on rides many of us are familiar with. Disneyland's Matterhorn ride seems fairly innocuous, but it's terrifying to realize how easily rides can end badly if safety precautions aren't followed.

On Jan. 3, 1984, a 48-year-old woman was tossed from one of the bobsled cars. She was hit by the following bobsled, resulting in instant decapitation.

The Aftermath: The Matterhorn

After the horrifying accident, investigators established that the woman's seatbelt hadn't been buckled. To this day, no one knows whether she unfastened it on purpose or if the buckle malfunctioned mid-ride.

Fasten your seatbelts, kids. 

Sailing Ship Columbia in Anaheim, California

On Dec. 24, 1998, a large, metal cleat ripped free from the side of a ride called Sailing Ship Columbia. As it fell, it hit two park guests and one Disney cast member. One of the visitors, a 33-year-old man, suffered a severe head injury, later dying in the ICU.  It was the first-ever Disneyland ride death in which the guest wasn't at least partially at fault. 

The Aftermath: Sailing Ship Columbia

Further investigation revealed that the tie line that was supposed to hold the cleat in place was replaced with a rope made of the wrong material to save money. The ship had also approached the dock too quickly, and the cleat wasn't designed to slow it down, leading it to tear free. 

The fault was found not with the operator of the ride but with the park for not training him properly. Had he been properly trained, he would have known that the ride procedures were to reverse the ship and re-approach the dock again at a slower pace. The victim's family won an estimated $25 million in a settlement against the park. 

Xtreme in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The extreme height of roller coasters is part of the exhilaration, but it's also what makes them so dangerous. On July 11, 2010, Lindsay Zeno went to visit the Blue Bayou Water Park/Dixie Landin' Amusement Park. She hopped on a ride called the Xtreme coaster that had been in operation for about three years. 

Minutes later, she fell 30 feet from the coaster, later dying of the injuries she sustained.

The Aftermath: Xtreme

A witness claimed to see Zeno trying to pull the safety restraint back down over herself when the coaster made a sharp turn, launching her into the air.

The investigation that followed was unable to determine if the accident was due to a malfunction of the safety mechanism or if it had never been properly locked to begin with. After the incident, the ride permanently closed. 

Askari Amusement Park in Karachi, Pakistan

Another more-recent amusement park accident occurred on July 15, 2018, at an amusement park in Karachi, Pakistan. A ride that swung passengers back and forth from a large pendulum broke down in the middle of operation.

The collapse injured 25 people, and a 12-year-old girl was killed during the accident.

The Aftermath: Askari Amusement Park

The park was thoroughly shocked by the ride's horrific malfunction.

It had only been open one month prior to the accident, and it took six months until park officials felt comfortable reopening their doors. 

Top Scan in East Farmingdale, New York

On Aug. 31, 2005, a 45-year-old mentally disabled woman went to visit the Adventureland amusement park in New York. She got onto the Top Scan ride, which took passengers on a spinning ride in six free-rotating gondolas.

During the course of the ride, passengers are spun in every direction, including upside down. Sadly, the woman's safety harness broke mid-operation, and she was flung from the ride. 

The Aftermath: Top Scan

The woman landed on a parked car in the nearby lot and was killed.

After that, the ride never operated again. 

Raging River in Altoona, Iowa

Water rides may seem less risky than high-speed coasters, but water poses other dangers. At Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa, a ride called Raging Rivers demonstrated how terrifying getting your feet wet can be. On July 3, 2021, one of the rafts on the ride overturned with six passengers aboard. Four were severely injured, and an 11-year-old boy later succumbed to his injuries.

The Aftermath: Raging River

The ride had been inspected the day before and passed with flying colors, as it had for the prior 10 years.

Following the tragic incident, however, the state regulator mandated that the Raging River ride be temporarily closed . In 2023, park officials announced that the ride would never reopen.

Quimera in Mexico City, Mexico

On Sept. 28, 2019, visitors to the La Feria de Chapultepec amusement park in Mexico City looked on in horror as one of the park's rides went horribly, horribly wrong. The last train on the track broke loose from the track and crashed to the ground 30 feet below.

Ten passengers were in the train at the time. Two men hit their heads on a steel support and fell, both dying from head injuries. Two women were hospitalized, and six others were treated at the scene. 

The Aftermath: Quimera

After the ride's malfunction, the park closed permanently. Disturbingly, investigators later found that not a single ride at the park had undergone routine maintenance at the time of the accident.

It's almost a miracle nothing went wrong sooner.

Kayak Experience in Vernon Township, New Jersey

Action Park, an amusement park in New Jersey that opened in 1978, was fraught with horrifying mishaps, from drownings to head injuries. On Aug. 1, 1982, a 27-year-old man got on the supposedly tame Kayak Experience ride, which simulated the experience of going river rafting. 

His kayak tipped at some point, so he got out of it to flip it over. As he did so, he stepped on a metal grate that was too close to a stretch of live wiring that powered the underwater fans that generated the waves. He was severely electrocuted, going into cardiac arrest and dying shortly after. 

The Aftermath: Kayak Experience

The park had the nerve to claim that he couldn't have died from electrocution because he didn't suffer any burns, but the coroner asserted that underwater electrocutions rarely cause burns. The ride was investigated, and the reports that followed varied in their description of how much of the wire was exposed. While New Jersey's Labor Department cleared the park of mismanaging the ride, the park opted not to reopen the ride, fearing that visitors would be too scared to go on it. That was probably the only good call the infamous Action Park ever made. 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Anaheim, California

Here's yet another amusement park ride accident that occurred at Disneyland. In September 2003, one man died, and 10 people were injured while riding the park's wildly popular Big Thunder Mountain Railroad . 

Things took a dark turn on the ride — which opened in 1970 —  when the open-passenger train cars separated from each other and the coaster came off its tracks. Riders were trapped in their cars in a cavern as emergency personnel worked to free them.

The Aftermath: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Investigators later determined that Disney staff did not follow proper maintenance procedures , which led to the accident. 

You can still ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad today, and thankfully, it has undergone some refurbishments since the tragic accident.

Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin in Anaheim, California

Also at Disneyland, changes were made to the Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin ride after a 4-year-old boy fell from the moving coaster and became trapped under a car in September 2000. The boy suffered various internal injuries and brain damage and spent several weeks in a drug-induced coma after the accident. 

A settlement reached between the family and Disney ensured that the victim's medical care would be covered for the rest of his life, but he ended up dying eight years later in 2009 . 

The Aftermath: Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin

Disney installed doors and added skirt-like bumpers to the coaster’s cars following an investigation into the accident , which also found that the ride operator first called his supervisor rather than 911.

With these changes in place, the ride remains open , with passengers riding in “taxis” and traveling through Toontown in search of Jessica Rabbit while trying to dodge various obstructions.

Verruckt Water Slide in Kansas City, Kansas

This one is gruesome, so if you’re squeamish, you’ve been warned. In August 2016, a 10-year-old boy died tragically while visiting the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City.

He was riding the Verruckt, a 168-foot-tall waterslide that was certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest in the world. The boy was decapitated when the raft he was riding went airborne, causing him to strike a metal rod used to hold a safety net in place. Two other passengers in the same raft also suffered injuries. 

The Aftermath: Verruckt Water Slide

Though the theme park’s owner and the waterslide’s designer were both charged criminally for the death, a judge later dismissed the charges , citing improper evidence.

The waterslide was eventually dismantled  but not until two years after the incident.

Thunder River Rapids in Queensland, Australia

The Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld, the largest theme park in Australia, was meant to mimic the exhilarating thrill of whitewater rafting — but in 2016, things took a turn for the chilling when two rafts collided, causing one to flip over and trap the passengers it was carrying.

Four people died in the accident, though fortunately, two young children riding in the raft somehow managed to free themselves and escape relatively unscathed.

The Aftermath: Thunder River Rapids

Theme park executives quickly decided to decommission the ride out of respect for the victims and their families. The entire theme park also temporarily shut down during a lengthy safety review and audit process. 

Since reopening, the park hasn’t had any further accidents. 

Texas Giant in Arlington

You can still ride the Texas Giant at Six Flags in Arlington, Texas, despite the fatal tragedy that occurred there in July 2013 . 

A 52-year-old woman was visiting the theme park for the first time when she decided to ride the Texas Giant, a “hybrid” roller coaster that combines steel engineering with wooden architecture. During a steep descent, the woman was thrown 75 feet from the ride, hitting a metal support beam and then landing on a metal roof. She ultimately died from her injuries. 

The Aftermath: Texas Giant

Though the ride was temporarily shut down, it reopened after the theme park’s internal investigation found no mechanical issues related to the accident (though they added new restraint bar pads and seat belts). 

Six Flags also went on to settle a lawsuit with the family of the victim; though the terms were not disclosed, $1 million was sought. The lawsuit included horrifying new details, like the fact that the woman held on for “dear life” before plunging to her death. 

The 14-story coaster, which reaches speeds of 65 miles per hour and has a steep 79-degree drop, initially opened in 1990 before undergoing a $10 million renovation and reopening in 2011, just two years before the accident.

Tsunami in Motherwell, Scotland

As five gondolas on the Tsunami roller coaster came around a corner, they detached from the ride’s rails and fell to the ground, striking the ride’s infrastructure on the way down. Thankfully, no one was killed in the accident at M&Ds theme park , though nine passengers — mostly children — were injured that day in June 2016. 

The ride’s claim to fame was that it was Scotland’s only “inverted” coaster, meaning that passengers rode under the track, rather than on top of it. 

The Aftermath: Tsunami

Most of the theme park shut down for several weeks following the accident, and the Tsunami ride was dismantled a few months later.

The theme park owners were also fined £65,000 for health and safety breaches .

Drop Zone in Santa Clara, California

These types of rides are everywhere: After getting strapped into a chair with your feet dangling below you, you’re pulled up to the top of a tower and released, free-falling back down at top speeds.

That was what was supposed to happen on the 224-foot-tall Drop Zone ride at Great America in August 1999 when tragedy struck. A 12-year-old boy died after he somehow slipped out of the safety harness and fell from the ride.

The Aftermath: Drop Zone

The boy’s mother filed a lawsuit soon after, saying "You don't go to an amusement park and leave without your child. You don't leave without your child and then have to plan their funeral."

Despite a robust and lengthy investigation , it’s not totally clear what caused the accident. The ride remains in operation at the theme park today, though Great America did end up installing a safety strap on it. 

King’s Crown in Omaha, Nebraska

What should have been a fun day at the carnival quickly turned into a nightmare for one Nebraska family when they boarded the spinning King’s Crown ride in 2016.

They were at a Cinco de Mayo festival in Omaha when their 11-year-old daughter’s hair got caught in the ride’s machinery. The family says she spun around, attached by her hair, for several minutes until her scalp pulled away from her head. 

The Aftermath: King’s Crown

The state’s labor department launched an investigation into the ride, shutting it down during the process, but said it did not appear that the ride malfunctioned. This one may have truly been a freak accident. 

The brave girl has undergone several surgeries and says her hair is starting to grow back on one side. 

Wild Wonder in Ocean City, New Jersey

Safety mechanisms fail from time to time. But for two safety mechanisms to fail? That’s nearly unheard of. Yet incredibly, that’s exactly what happened on the Wild Wonder roller coaster in August 1999.

As the coaster was being drawn up the tracks, the drag chain released the cars prematurely, sending the cars flying backward. An anti-rollback/emergency brake device also malfunctioned, so the car just kept rolling. Though the car itself stayed on the tracks, the force of the drop sent the passengers — a mother and her 8-year-old daughter — into the air, killing them both.

The Aftermath: Wild Wonder

The coaster was removed from the amusement park not long after.

The Wildcat in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The unexpected backward rolling of a roller coaster appears to be a somewhat common accident, as the same thing happened on The Wildcat at Bell’s Amusement Park in April 1997.

A 14-year-old boy died and six people were injured as a result of this tragic accident, which occurred just as the coaster was being pulled to the highest point on the track. Instead of cresting over the top, the car slid backward and collided with another car. 

The amusement park was packed with people because of a 25-cent ride promotion to celebrate its opening for the season, so many people witnessed the accident.

The Aftermath: The Wildcat

"It was rickety, but then that's the way it always is,” said Wesley Harmon, who rode the same ride about an hour before the accident. "That's scary to think that it could have been one of us.'' 

The ride was reportedly disassembled and relocated to an amusement park in Maryland with the new name “ Avalanche ” before permanently closing in 2014.

Sand Blaster in Daytona Beach, Florida

Luckily, the derailment of the Sand Blaster coaster in June 2018 didn’t do more damage.

Six people were injured when the coaster went off the tracks, which left a cart full of people dangling in the air. 

The Aftermath: Sand Blaster

Investigators later determined that the amusement park’s owners had not addressed engineering problems that had caused a previous derailment a few years earlier — if they had, the 2018 accident likely wouldn’t have happened. 

The crash resulted from operator error and excessive speed, according to investigators, who found rust and chipped paint along the track and saw earlier videos that showed the coaster nearly derailing. The ride is reportedly still standing but not operating .

Rollo Coaster in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The owners of the Idlewild & Soak Zone Amusement Park made some big changes to the park’s Rollo Coaster ride after a 3-year-old boy was thrown from one of the cars in August 2016. 

The boy was sitting next to his older brother when the coaster rounded a curve at its highest point. After being ejected from the coaster, he reportedly fell at least 10 feet and landed near a fence.

The Aftermath: Rollo Coaster

The boy spent two months in the hospital with a head injury. No recent news reports indicate how he’s doing today. 

An investigation uncovered that ride operators failed to notice when the boy switched seats to sit next to his brother, when he should have been sitting next to an adult.

The Rollo Coaster ride remained closed for nearly two years and reopened in April 2018 with several added safety features. It got a new train with fewer seats and now has seat belts and lap bars.

Roller Coaster in Farmington, Utah

It’s simply called “Roller Coaster,” though it sometimes goes by the name White Roller Coaster. This wooden ride was built in 1921 and has been running at the Lagoon Amusement Park ever since, despite a handful of deaths and accidents. 

In 1989, a 13-year-old girl died after she stood up as the coaster crested a hill. She fell forward onto the tracks and was struck by two cars before plunging 35 feet to the ground. 

A 20-year-old man also fell when he attempted to stand up on the coaster in 1934, and a maintenance worker was killed in 1946 after he was struck while working on scaffolding on the coaster. 

The Aftermath: Roller Coaster

 Believe it or not: You can still ride the historic coaster today , if you dare.

Superman: Tower of Power in Louisville, Kentucky

If you’re squeamish, this one might be tough to read about. While riding a free-fall ride called the Superman: Tower of Power at Six Flags in 2007, a 13-year-old girl suffered a freak accident that resulted in her feet being cut off. 

A cord got wrapped around her feet, which severed them from her legs at the ankles. Doctors were able to miraculously re-attach one foot but were forced to amputate the other leg below the knee.

The Aftermath: Superman: Tower of Power

The ride, which pulls passengers up 177 feet before dropping them at 54 miles per hour, was later dismantled. Eventually, the entire theme park closed because of financial troubles.

The girl relearned to walk and has remained optimistic throughout the recovery process. “Everything happens for a reason,” Kaitlyn Lasitter told the Vanderbilt University publication “House Organ.” “Everyone has their own life story, and mine was supposed to have this huge detail put into it at some point.”

Treetop Twister in Ripon, England

The Treetop Twister was a brand-new ride at Lightwater Valley Theme Park when a tragic accident occurred.

The spinning ride, which took passengers through various tight twists and turns, had been open roughly a month when two carriages on the coaster collided, resulting in the death of a 20-year-old university student . Three men were also injured in the accident. 

The Aftermath: Treetop Twister

Faulty wiring, worn-out wheels, improper training and the actions of a ride operator reportedly caused the crash. Despite the incident, the ride remained operational until 2019  under the name “The Twister.” 

“This spinning roller coaster gives an awesome, fun-packed experience for all the family, with passengers boarding a strange waltzer-shaped ride car and heading on an epic ascent to the treetops,” the coaster’s description states.

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Dangerous, Tasteless, Dirty: the Worst Theme Parks in the World

Children dream of theme parks all winter long. It’s a place where riding roller coasters, scarfing down cotton candy, and spinning in tea cups until you puke is socially acceptable. But not all theme parks are created equal, and some can actually turn your idyllic day into a nightmare.

From parks where crucifixion is a daily occurrence, to rides named after flatulence, these are seven of the worst theme parks in the world.

Parque Ecoalberto —Alberto, Mexico

The US/Mexico border. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Trying to cross the border from Mexico into the US can be a dangerous and deadly experience…so why not make a theme park out of it! For just $18, guests can travel down to Parque Ecoalberto to experience what it’s like to cross into the U.S. illegally. La Caminata, also known as “The Hike,” is an attraction that provides visitors with an authentic border crossing experience. Visitors travel 7.5 miles accompanied by about 100 staff members who pose as coyote’s in ski masks, border agents, drug smugglers and guides. It’s a terrifying experience that you pay for.

WATCH: Dodging Bullets In Illegal Mexican Border Crossing Amusement Park Experience

Bon Bon Land — Olstrup, Denmark

They sure know how to entice riders.  (Photo: Theme Park Review)

At first glance, Bon Bon Land looks like your standard theme park — there are water rides, thrilling roller coasters, and snacks galore. But rides aren’t the issue at this park…it’s their names. Not only are the characters in the park doing gross things like vomiting, but there’s a ride called the “Farting Dog,” and another called “The Water Rat!”  Oh, and while you’re there, don’t forget to have the kids ride “Skid Mark.” We don’t think there are actual skid marks on the ride, but the name conjures up enough imagery that we prefer to stay on the ground.

Related:  Buckle Up! America’s Best New Theme Park Rides

Holy Land — Orlando, Fla.

Passion of the Christ Live Drama. (Photo: The Holy Land Experience)

The Holy Land Experience has good intentions. The theme park’s main mission is to bring the teachings of the bible to life, which they do…but things quickly turn somber. Instead of a parade of costumed characters, like the one at nearby Disney World, Holy Land shows the crucifixion of Christ. That’s right, twice a day, a bloodied and beaten Jesus is paraded through the park, before he is nailed to a cross and dies. We could be wrong,  but we think your child would probably prefer a picture with Mickey.

Action Park — New Jersey

The 100-foot water slide is scheduled to open in 2016. (Photo: Nick Diamond Photography)

Action Park has one major issue — there’s too much action! A string of accidents and safety violations earned this New Jersey staple the nickname of the “the world’s most dangerous,” and in 1996 the park was shut down. It reopened 2 years later, but has continued to push the envelope as far as safety is concerned. Case in point, the park plans to reopen its dangerous cannonball loop waterslide in 2016, 20 years after the original slide was shut down in the 80’s over safety concerns. Let’s just say, we won’t be the first in line to volunteer for a ride.

Fantazyland — Alexandria, Egypt

The monorail at Fantazy Land. (Photo: Richard Bannister/www.themeparks.ie)

We’re not sure if Fantazyland is still open. But if it is, it should probably be shut down immediately. At first glance, the theme park just looks like a pile of dirt. But upon closer inspection, there are ride on the grounds, although theres no guarantee they are in working order. We also hear that the staff is on hand to take your money at the entrance, but that’s about the only service they will provide. Enter at your own risk.

Stalin’s World — Lithuania

Viliumas Malinauskas, the founder of Grutas Park poses near the statues. (Photo: AP)

The name of this theme park should let you know that things are about to get controversial. Stalin’s World, also known as  Grūtas Park , is home to more than 100 statues of the controversial leaders face. It opened in 2000, and showcases newspapers, documents, posters, and video from 50 years of Soviet Rule. To round things out, there is also a merry-go-round if your kids want a little adventure with their propaganda.

Related:  A Disney Coaster in Flames and 5 Other Theme Park Disasters

Shijingshan Amusement Park — Beijing, China

Just a lady with her dwarfs…but it’s definitely not Snow White. (Photo: AP)

When you enter the gates of Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing, you’ll be welcomed by costumed characters like Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck. There’s one problem — this isn’t Disney World, and these characters are cheap replicas! We imagine that these bootleg characters are similar to the unstable ones found in Times Square, which makes us cringe! But it’s not just Disney, the park also has rides inspired by Jurassic Park and Batman. So, if you want to show your kids a slightly disappointing but decent time, take them to this park.

Check out the video of our editor, Paula Froelich, at the EcoUmberto Parque, "crossing the border."

Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Pinterest. Check out our original adventure travel series A Broad Abroad .

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The Worst-Rated Disney Theme Park Might Surprise You

According to Yelp reviews , the world's least favorite Disney theme park is Hollywood Studios in Florida. This might be surprising to some avid theme park goers, given how much Disney World invested in Hollywood Studios just before the pandemic. In mid-2018 and mid-2019, it added two new areas, Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, which both hold popular rides that regularly draw long lines. However, the demand for rides and the relatively compact, crowded nature of the park may be part of the problem, leaving some travelers vocally dissatisfied with their vacation experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

In December 2023, The Daily Mirror analyzed average Yelp scores from 1 to 5 to determine which of Disney's 12 parks worldwide had the lowest rating. The only park not included in the analysis was Shanghai Disneyland since the Yelp app isn't supported there yet. Most Disney parks scored 4.0 or better, but three of the most-visited parks fell slightly below that number: the Magic Kingdom (3.9), the original Disneyland in California (3.8), and Disney's Hollywood Studios (3.7).

For comparison, several other well-known Florida theme parks rate even lower, with Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay scoring 3.5, 3.4, and 3.4, respectively. This seems to indicate that, in the eyes of Yelp users, at least, even the worst-rated Disney park is still better than some other theme parks. If you're planning a trip to Disney World, however, you may want to temper your expectations for Hollywood Studios.

Why Hollywood Studios may rate so low

A common complaint of Disney's Hollywood Studios, even among regular visitors who like the park, is that it has a few great rides but doesn't always deliver the smoothest overall experience for guests. If you look at the numbers on Disney's own website, Hollywood Studios currently has a grand total of five self-classified "thrill rides." One of those, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, is closed for refurbishment as of this writing. That leaves The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land, and two rides in Galaxy's Edge — Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Hollywood Studios does have a few other, less intense rides, such as Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, Alien Swirling Saucers, and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway . However, stage shows, live entertainment, and character experiences make up the majority of its 37 attractions. What this means is that when one or more rides at Hollywood Studios breaks down, it can have a domino effect, redirecting the crowd flow, making the lines for other rides longer, and disrupting people's itinerary for the day.

More than one negative Yelp review of Hollywood Studios expresses disappointment with being unable to board a specific ride or having to endure an interminable wait. Theoretically, this is why Disney offers the Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane services, but you have to pay extra for those, and they aren't necessarily foolproof or worth it for the money.

Gripes with cost and access

You can read our full guide to Genie+ and our guide to Lightning Lane to understand those services better, but the gist of it is that they allow you to make ride reservations for a surcharge. What's tricky is that Individual Lightning Lane access for the highly coveted Rise of Resistance tends to sell out first thing in the morning. This is where guests of Disney World's official, on-site hotels have an advantage since they can get a 30-minute head start on rides with Early Theme Park Entry. For budget travelers and those with big families who can't afford such added costs, it could be dispiriting to see other people go ahead of you when you're already in the middle of what feels like an overpriced Disney vacation.

Other reviews complain about everything from the food quality to the atmosphere of screaming kids at Hollywood Studios. If it's been a while since you last visited or it's your first time, you may want to mentally prepare yourself for something to go wrong and disrupt your best-laid travel plans. In a perfect Disney World, just buying a Hollywood Studios ticket would be enough to guarantee access to any ride, but unfortunately, technical malfunctions do occur, and the park is a money-making operation that rewards guests who spend more. At worst, lowering your expectations might mean you'll be pleasantly surprised should Hollywood Studios turn out to be a better experience than Yelp makes it out to be.

Top 10 Worst Theme Park Rides

#10: Living with the Land Epcot

Whether you fancy indulging in exotic cuisine from around the world, or speeding down the crash course in “Test Track”, Epcot has a surprising amount of educational fun for both kids and adults. However, there’s one ride in this edutainment wonderland that’s sure to be a buzzkill. As insightful and enlightening as “Living with the Land” is, this isn’t so much a ride to amuse families as it is an excuse for a school field trip. It’ll lecture your ears off about agriculture and the future of new technologies, but that’s about as interesting as it gets. Unless you’re really into the subject, Living with the Land is about as thrilling as the People Mover.

#9: Tomorrowland Speedway [AKA Autopia] Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom

We could include every version of this ride, but there’s a reason why the Magic Kingdom version of “Tomorrowland Speedway” is getting singled out. For starters, Magic Kingdom is located in Florida, one of the hottest states in the United States. So, when you have to stand in a long line outdoors, you hope this glorified go-kart ride is worth the wait. Alas, you find the karts are on a fixed track, and you won’t be able to go very far before you run into the person in front of you, who may be going the minimum speed. Before you cross the finish line, you’ll be wondering why the lines were so long in the first place.

#8: Superstar Limo Disney’s California Adventure

Ever wondered what the world of Hollywood is like? Disney has provided several opportunities to show you the magic of making movies, but not every attraction has been as enjoyable as the Great Movie Ride. One of Disney’s biggest blunders was Superstar Limo at Disney’s California Adventure, where guests would enter a cartoon limo before being whisked away to an animated version of Hollywood. Filled with creepy caricatures of celebrities and many, many outdated jokes, the ride became so unpopular with guests that Disney shut it down in January 2002, less than a year after it opened. It would be replaced by Monsters Inc: Mike & Sulley to the Rescue in 2006.

#7: The Dark Knight Coaster Various Six Flags Parks

Six Flags has boasted its fair share of Batman-themed roller coasters, but when they tried to capitalize on Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” movies, it proved to be a huge disappointment. The Dark Knight Coaster tried taking cues from Disney’s “Space Mountain”, throwing guests on a coaster shrouded in darkness while putting minimum effort into the set pieces. No joke, we aren’t missing footage here - this represents the entire two-minute long ride! Save for a couple of sudden drops and a jumpscare at the end, the only way to describe the Dark Knight Coaster was a squandered opportunity.

#6: Discovery River Boats Disney’s Animal Kingdom

One of the best things about Disney’s Animal Kingdom is that it mixes the excitement of Disney’s franchises with a traditional trip to the zoo. However, not every facet of the park is brimming with that “Disney magic”, which is precisely why Discovery River Boats makes it on our list. Throughout the ride, guests can look at small animals that they could have seen from land. “Half-assed” doesn’t begin to describe how dull and lazy Discovery River Boats was, being so uninteresting that even the tour guides had a hard time keeping guests engaged. The ride was shut down roughly a year and a half after opening in April 1998.

#5: Astro Orbiter Disneyland

This time, we’re favoring the Magic Kingdom version as the Disneyland rendition manages to strip “Astro Orbiter” of its appeal. When visiting Tomorrowland, visitors can ride this rocket spinner that boasts a breathtaking view of the park before being brought back down to Earth. The magic was lost when the ride was brought over to Disneyland in 1998, because it was placed instead at ground level, making it a typical kiddie ride. It was almost as if Disney themselves didn’t understand what made “Astro Orbiter” so special.

#4: Fast & Furious: Supercharged Universal Studios Orlando

Universal has certainly had a few hiccups, but when looking at their most recent attractions, this has got to be their dumbest. Fast & Furious: Supercharged seats guests inside a bus as they experience the “Fast & Furious” crew perform an explosive heist. While it lives up to Universal’s aim in bringing movies to life, it fails to replicate what makes the “Fast & Furious” movies exciting to watch. It's the editing and cinematography that brings those movies to life, not just the fights and car crashes. In the end, “Supercharged” is a tour with very little bang. Can you believe they replaced “Disaster!” and “Beetlejuice’s Rock & Roll Graveyard Revue” with this?

#3: Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin Walt Disney Studios Park

Caterpillar rides can be moderately exciting, but when taking a trip to a Disney park, we expect more than the cheap rides we’d find at a carnival. Unfortunately, Disney went ahead and installed “Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin” at the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. While Rex makes remarks about how fast Slinky is, “ZigZag Spin” is unbearably slow and tedious, and even though the ride only lasts a couple of minutes, it feels like an eternity. It may be enjoyable enough for toddlers, but anyone over the age of five may want to hop on the “RC Racer” coaster to get their adrenaline pumping again.

#2: Tuck & Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies Disney’s California Adventure

The story behind “A Bug’s Land” at Disney’s California Adventure was that Flik and his friends from “A Bug’s Life” had decided to create their own fun fair. Well, based on this ride, they should have stuck to scaring off grasshoppers. “Tuck & Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies” is an exceptionally lazy, boring bumper car ride. Considering Disney had created a more thrilling bumper car ride in the form of “Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters” at Disney Quest, it’s stunning how this painfully slow ride was given the green light. At least “Luigi’s Flying Tires” had beach balls to throw around! ...Yeah, no, that ride was just as awful.

#1: Green Lantern: First Flight Six Flags Magic Mountain

Most of our list has comprised of rides that were boring, lifeless, or pointless. “Green Lantern: First Flight”, on the other hand, was actually a painful experience both physically and mentally. Adopting a new model designed and manufactured by Intamin Worldwide, “First Flight” was a fourth dimension roller coaster that perched guests on the sides of the railing, thrashing and spinning them about. Several outlets called it “one of the worst roller coasters ever”, citing it's unbelievably violent nature. And yet, the ride remained in operation for six years before closing in 2017. Today, it has been relocated to La Ronde where it’s scheduled to reopen in 2020 under the name “Vipère”.

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These are the worst trips in the world

Here are 13 thrilling real-life stories of journeys gone wrong.

Seeking adventure or escape wasn’t without peril even before the coronavirus pandemic stilled travel. Some trips don’t go as planned in dramatic ways. Food poisoning pauses your sushi-tasting tour of Tokyo . A trip on the trail in Yellowstone results in a broken arm. A pickpocket complicates your museum visits in Paris .

But other times real disaster strikes—especially for adventure travelers and expeditioners. From the summit of Everest to the jungles of the Amazon , from harsh elements to deadly insects, the world can be a perilous place.

One way to avoid trips gone bad is to read about them from the safety of your armchair. Here are some of our favorite cautionary tales.

Waylaid by water

In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette (2014), by Hampton Sides. With the pacing of a thriller writer and a historian’s attention to detail, Sides recounts the twisting, turning story of a late 19th-century polar expedition-gone-wrong . Bad luck—and a faulty theory about warm arctic seas—strands the crew literally on thin ice, where the challenges (snow blindness, polar bears, starvation) are as compelling as the characters.

Kon Tiki , (1948), by Thor Heyerdahl. In 1947, Norwegian writer/adventurer Heyerdahl and five companions successfully sailed a primitive wood and hemp raft from Peru to Polynesia. But the 4,300-mile, 101-day journey came with perils including shark encounters, men overboard, and a final crash into a coral reef. Though Heyerdahl’s prose and views seem a bit dated today, it’s still a ripping yarn of adventure and misadventure on the high seas.

Madhouse at the End of the Earth (2021), by Julian Sancton. In 1897, Adrien de Gerlache set sail aboard the Belgica, chasing dreams of being the first to reach the magnetic South Pole . After a number of setbacks, de Gerlache stubbornly presses on, trapping the ship in the frozen Bellingshausen Sea. Facing months of darkness, illness, and madness, crewmembers Frederick Cook and Roald Amundsen hatch a risky escape plan. Today, the isolation endured by the Belgica crew is studied by NASA scientists for future missions to Mars.

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey (2005), by Candice Millard. A “delightful holiday,” thought Teddy Roosevelt about his upcoming trip to chart the Rio da Dúvida, a tributary of the Amazon River. But the 1913–1914 expedition, led by renowned Brazilian explorer Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon , was doomed from the start. Three men and half the pack animals die; Roosevelt nearly succumbs to malaria; his son Kermit narrowly escapes drowning. Flesh-eating piranhas, poisonous snakes, and a murder add to the epic misadventure that ultimately changed the map of Brazil .

( Meet the fearless women taking on the ‘Everest of the seas.’ )

Terrors on terra firma

Bad Tourist: Misadventures in Love and Travel (2020), by Suzanne Roberts. In this collection of essays, Roberts recounts her adventures while traveling mostly solo to 15 countries. Along the way she navigates mishaps both large and small, from a dangerous mudslide in Peru to a tricky romantic entanglement in Greece . Each experience offers a chance to probe her inner “bad tourist,” as she wrestles with issues of privilege, cultural blind spots, and her own insecurities on a journey to self-discovery.

Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park     (Second edition, 2014), by Lee H. Whittlesey. “The park is not Disneyland, Rocky Mountain version,” says Whittlesey, a former NPS ranger whose meticulously reported, droll book catalogs the numerous ways nature can kill you in this grand expanse in Wyoming and Montana . There are fewer bear attacks than you’d expect, but readers may find themselves newly terrified of Yellowstone’s hot springs (they can boil you alive!) and bison (fuzzy looking, but apt to charge you or gore you).

In Trouble Again: A Journey Between the Orinoco and the Amazon   (1988), by Redmond O’Hanlon. “There are no leeches that go for you in the Amazon jungles,” notes O’Hanlon at the start of his four-month trek through the Venezuelan Amazon. But there are “amoebic and bacillary dysenteries, yellow and blackwater and dengue fevers, malaria, cholera, typhoid, rabies...plus one or two very special extras.” The author’s exhilarating expedition on uncharted rivers in a dugout canoe aims far—to reach beyond where 19th-century explorers went, to find a community of Yanomami peoples, and to survive encounters with all manner of deadly insects and animals.

The Wilderness Idiot: Lessons from an Accidental Adventurer (2019), by Ted Alvarez. “Just say yes” is the mantra for Alvarez, Backpacker magazine’s northwest editor. That often means the author will find himself in sticky situations, such as the time he spent chasing his clothes across a frozen tundra, naked. Hilarious stories like these break down any fear readers may have about venturing outside of their comfort zones. And that’s exactly what Alvarez is after in this humorous collection of the good trouble he gets into.

( Read about the boldest polar expedition of modern times .)

Mishaps in the mountains

Annapurna: A Woman’s Place (1980), by Arlene Blum. In 1978, Blum was part of the first all-female expedition to summit Annapurna 1 in the Himalayas , the world’s tenth-highest peak. The record-breaking accomplishment came at a high price—two women fell to their deaths. In this eye-opening account, Blum brings readers to Base Camp, as the women battle the ever-present threat of avalanches, freezing winds, and altitude sickness—all while changing the world’s perception of what women are capable of.

Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest’s Most Controversial Season (2008), by Nick Heil. Seasoned climber and former editor of Outside magazine, Heil focuses on the 2006 Mount Everest climbing season, when 11 people died—the deadliest season on record. Among the victims was David Sharp, who lay dying as 40 climbers trekked passed him. Another, Lincoln Hall, was left for dead, but was later found alive. With an investigative reporter’s precision and a mountaineer’s expertise, Heil delves into the two mens’ fates and the problems that arise as high-altitude climbing becomes commercialized.

Into Thin Air (1999), by Jon Krakauer. No story about Everest would be complete without Krakauer’s contribution. In 1996, while on assignment for Outside magazine, Krakauer summited the iconic peak. But that day, a sudden storm killed eight others. In this now classic story, Krakauer examines the events of that tragic day and attempts to come to terms with the emotional aftermath.

( These 10 books will take you on real-life adventures .)

More tales of travel terror

Stampede: Gold Fever and Disaster in the Klondike   (2021), by Brian Castner. In 1896, when a Yukon River tributary was found to have veins of gold so thick they resembled cheese sandwiches, it set off the largest gold rush in Canadian   history. Castner, known for mining history for colorful characters and rich detail in previous books like Disappointment River , follows ill-equipped wannabe prospectors and profiteers (including adventure writer Jack London ) as they suffer from scurvy, freeze, plunge to their deaths in icy crevices, and otherwise mostly fail to strike it rich.

Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel (2001), by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. It’s safe to say that the chances of encountering a runaway passenger train or an unconscious pilot while on an average vacation are slim. But as the authors assert, danger is lurking everywhere, and you can never be too safe. This edition in the popular Worst-Case Scenario series humorously breaks down all manner of sticky situations (however unlikely), based on advice from U.S. State Department officials, movie stunt people, and railroad engineers, among other experts.

Related Topics

• MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
• MODERN HISTORY

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Everyone has a favorite Disney Parks show. Maybe you’re consistently wowed by Indiana Jones’ explosive stunt spectacular, or maybe Belle’s over-glittered ballgown gives you nostalgic 90s flashbacks during the finale of Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage! . Perhaps you have a special fondness for the princess power ballads of Mickey and the Magical Map or have gained a new appreciation for the calming lotus floats of Rivers of Light .

Whatever your preference, the point of these rankings isn’t to tell you what your favorite Disney show is or should be. It’s to determine which Disney Parks production does the best job of combining innovation, special effects, and longevity. Will it be the phenomenally-crafted Frozen – Live at the Hyperion or the eternally-popular Festival of the Lion King ? What about the endearing puppetry of Finding Nemo – The Musical ? Let’s find out.  

(Note: A few parameters were applied to these rankings: Shows are only listed from Disneyland or Walt Disney World and all feature live players. Those that depend heavily on character/audience interactions (Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple), exclusively feature Audio-Animatronics (Country Bear Jamboree), or lack a clear storyline (fireworks and parades) have been omitted, as they’re too different to compare fairly. These rankings solely reflect the opinions of the author and do not represent those of Theme Park Tourist.)

14. Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire (Magic Kingdom)

Image: Diana Kelly,  Flickr  ( license )

Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire is fine for what it is—a simple stage show that spotlights the latest Disney princesses with a song and a dance—but it’s not breaking any new ground or showcasing any special effects we haven’t seen before. And it’s not going to stick around as a permanent feature of Disney entertainment, either… at least, not if it goes the way of Dream Along with Mickey .

13. Rivers of Light (Disney's Animal Kingdom)

Image: Disney

Perhaps part of the problem with this show is that it was hyped up for so long before it made its debut. It’s not a bad show, per se, but simply the victim of high expectations. That said, it does get a few things right, making creative use of luminescent lotus floats and vivid water projections to achieve a kind of Fantasmic! / World of Color hybrid. Like Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire , however, it’s difficult to see this becoming a can’t-miss classic.

12. Red Car Trolley News Boys (Disney California Adventure)

Image: Jeff Kern,  Flickr  ( license )

Speaking of creative shows, this little homage to turn-of-the-century newsboys is as original as they come. The seven-member cast utilizes one of the Red Car Trolley ride vehicles to set the stage, further grounding the show on Buena Vista Street as they transport guests to California’s Roaring Twenties (through period-specific songs and dances, that is, not magical ride vehicles). While the newsies’ musical revue and acrobatic dance moves are impressive, there’s little to suggest that this is the best Disney has to offer. The News Boys may be fixed characters in Disney California Adventure for years to come, but the small scope of the show and lack of special effects leaves them toward the bottom of this list.

Ashley is a freelance writer based in the Bay Area. She has a deep-seated passion for the Disney Parks and theme park history and can often be found nose-deep in a history book -- when she's not planning her next trip to Disneyland, that is! She recently completed her first book, a retrospective on Disney's 1992 film and Broadway smash hit, Newsies.

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